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CHAIRMAN’S LETTER 2009
Veteran
Brothers,
Can you believe that the eleventh reunion of the Newport Dealeys is already behind us? First there was
Seekonk MA, then Lake George NY, Norfolk VA, Charleston SC, Lancaster PA, Newport RI, Jacksonville FL, Baltimore MD, Philadelphia
PA, Nashville TN and now back to Norfolk VA in 2009.
I don’t know how you feel, but you all have become family to
me and Sandy. We look forward to being with you for this short time every year. Chairing the reunions doesn’t leave much time
for visiting, darn-it, although I did have so much fun and memories doing the job!
Most of us registered on Thursday,
September 24th, at the Norfolk Airport Hilton, once again, just as we had done the first time in 2001 after the Towers were
hit. Of course, 2009 was a much, much happier reunion. We were actually able to tour the largest naval base in the world both
from land and the sea. The cooler, rainy, windy tour didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits, as there was plentiful laughing
going on in that “good company” and it did remind us of our long past Navy days off Newport RI. A highlight of the base tour
was a scheduled (but not publicized) stop at the base Commanding Officers building to view the ship’s bell of the USS Cromwell.
Many USS Cromwell shipmates took advantage of this photo-op to gather and pose around the bell.
Friday’s dinner
proved to be informative, when Bill Dudley, a former LTJG onboard the USS Cromwell, brought us up to date on a new memorial
to the US Navy placed on Utah Beach in Normandy France. Bill enlightened us of the dedicated efforts and fund-raising it took
to get the US Navy to be finally recognized for its roll in the D-day invasion,
A door prize raffle, which lucky
attendees received some great gifts, provided us with lots of fun. The raffle was followed by a presentation by Marc Arsenault.
He informed us of his investigative findings and the locations of some of the Newport Dealeys ships’ artifacts such as anchors,
bells and other ship memorabilia that survived a bygone era and are now on public display.
Next year’s chairman, Ron
Bauer, presented a sneak-peek into Mobile, AL for 2010.
Saturday provided an historic look at early America through
Williamsburg VA plus the fascinating tour of the Mariners’ Museum and the Monitor exhibit, which is a tour in itself! The
exhausted group managed to snap-to-it with clean faces for the photos before dinner and the wonderful speaker, LT. CDR. Kurt
Mondlak, XO of the USS MAHAN DDG-72 accompanied by his wife Brittiany. He brought us up-to-date on today’s comprehensive &
technical & tactical Naval Operations in the Middle East and throughout the world through his personal experience and inspirational
slideshow. Makes one proud of our volunteer forces, doesn’t it? DJ Paul Bell got us up to dance the rest of the night.
Ron Bauer led the USS Cromwell Crew in our Sunday Morning Memorial Service just as solemn as it always was and should always
be to tribute our fallen comrades. Saying goodbye is never easy but we look forward to some Southern Hospitality in Mobile
2010.
God bless you all with Fair Winds and Calm Seas.
Shipmates Forever
Jerry Skorch
Newport Dealeys
2009 Norfolk Reunion Chairman
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